Smart strategies for the transition in coal intensive regions

The TRACER project supports a number of coal-intensive regions around Europe to design (or re-design) their Research and Innovation (R&I) strategies in order to facilitate their transition towards a sustainable energy system. The TRACER consortium consists of different target regions: South East Bulgaria, North West Bohemia - Czech Republic, Lusatian Lignite District - Germany, Western Macedonia - Greece, Upper Silesian Coalfield - Poland, West Region, Jiu Valley - Romania, Wales – UK, Kolubara - Serbia, Donetsk - Ukraine. Core activities of TRACER include the implementation of an EDP (Entrepreneurial Discovery Process) to mobilise a wide range of stakeholders in each target region to develop an appropriate governance structure and to bring regional stakeholders together to discuss and agree on a shared vision and priorities for coal transition. R&I strategies, industrial roadmaps and decision support tools will be developed jointly with key stakeholders of the TRACER target regions. Further TRACER activities include the identification and analysis of best practice examples of successful and ambitious transition processes in coal intensive regions, a detailed assessment of social, environmental and technological challenges, the elaboration of guidelines on how to mobilise investment as well as dedicated activities to stimulate R&I cooperation among coal intensive regions in Europe and beyond

Renewable energy sources: Jobs created, skills required (and identified gaps), education and training

As has been documented, renewables contribute significantly to employment growth, creating relatively more jobs than the fossil fuels they displace, an important fact due to the dramatic rise in unemployment experienced nowadays. The results of various studies made are presented, along with projections for the future. The jobs per installed megawatt of various renewable energy (RE) technologies are estimated for Greece and compared to conventional power production methods. Then, the variety of professions involved in each sub-sector of the RE industry (equipment manufacture and distribution, project development, construction and installation, operation and maintenance of plants) are presented, along with the recognized skills they should have to properly fulfil their tasks. Finally, selected initiatives undertaken by universities and vocational training providers aiming to address the identified skill shortages in all RE industry's parts are listed

Qualification roadmap empowering the Greek building sector workforce in the field of energy

Summarization: A key factor hampering the delivery of high energy performance renovations in buildings is the under-qualification of the construction sector's workforce with regard to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources systems. Towards this direction, this paper proposes an integrated methodological framework, determining measures for the case of Greece, which are delivered in the form of a national qualification roadmap. These measures aim to enhance the qualifications of the blue collar workers and generally empower the Greek construction sector. They also facilitate the adherence of Greece to the European Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources Directives and support the attainment of the national energy objectives for 2020. The methodological framework is initiated with the analysis of the status quo of the Greek building sector and the skills and qualifications gap of the workforce, as well as the identification of the corresponding barriers that impede growth. Subsequently, a number of diverse measures are proposed and evaluated, using a synergy of decision analysis and evaluation methods. The measures that are assessed as of high priority are afterwards specified to concrete actions. Throughout the whole modular procedure, multiple relevant national bodies were actively engaged via transparent consultation procedures and multilateral discussions. Finally, 44 acknowledged organisations declared their endorsement to the roadmap by signing an official letter.Presented on: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review